Letter-box



2 Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. OLTAYLOR' LETTER BOX.

N0. 415,746. Patented NOV. 26, 1889.:

N, PETERS F'llowlflhographar. Washingtnn. D: C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. O. TAYLOR.

LETTER BOX.

No. 415,746. Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

wrwsses. 1%(9/71207 hwy/6W zz'w a- N. PETERS, Phuw-Lilha n hur,washingium D. G.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'ILLIAM O. TAYLOR, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,746, dated November26, 1889.

Application filed November 3, 1888- Serial No. 289,861- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TILLIAM O. TAYLOR, of Maiden, county of Middlesex,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Mail-Boxes, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresentinglike parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a cheap yet durablemail-box for use in hallways and other places.

In accordance with this invention the box or case is made of metalcastings secured together. The dooris pivoted to the box or case nearits lower end, to be turned or dropped down to expose the contents ofthe box. Means are provided for ascertaining whether or not there areany letters or other matter in the box without necessitating theemployment ofa glass face. Means are also provided to assist inpresenting the contents of the box to the person opening the box. Thebox is provided with an opening through which the mail-matter is passedand also with suitable spring-clips for retaining newspapers and thelike. The box is also provided with an opening, back of which may beplaced suitable cards or indicators to make known different wants or togive information concerning the owner of the box.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a mailbox embodying this invention;Fig. 2, a vertical section of the mail-box shown in Fig. l on the dottedline 00 00; Fig. 3, a detail showing the plate 0; and Fig. t a, verticalsection of the mail-box, showing the door open.

The box is composed of a metallic frame comprising the side walls a,bottom plate a, top plate a and a back plate a secured in position andmade of any suitable material. The doorb comprises, substantially, theentire front plate of the box,it being pivoted at b to the side Walls.The door is provided with a suitable lock b and when unlocked may beturned down or away from-the box on the pivots h. Arectangular frame 0,(shown separately in Fig. 3,) curved upwardly at one end, as at c, andhaving at each side lugs 0?, is placed in the box with the said lugsresting on hooked ears formed on the rear side of the door Z), at itslower end. The frame 0 is provided with a handle 0 by which it may beturned on its pivots from the full into the dotted line position in Fig.2. Aflat plate or bar cl is secured to the rear side of the door b,ithaving at its lower end a shoulder or projeetion d, which occupies aposition just above the hooked cars 0 so as to prevent the lugs c of theframe 0 from displacement.

When a card, letter, or other mail-matter is dropped into the boxthrough the opening ein the top plate, it strikes upon the frame 0, andwhen the box-door is turned down to expose the interior of the box theframe 0 will fall by gravity upon the mail-matter and hold it down uponthe rear side of the door, which, it will be understood,is at that timein horizontal position, thereby assisting in delivering the matter andholding it in place to prevent it from being blown-away.

To ascertain. Whether or not there is any matter in the box, the handle0 is depressed, and if the frame 0 strikes the metallic face of the dooror the metallic plate d it will be at once understood from the soundthat there 7 5 is nothing in the box, and if there is anything in thebox the plate c will strike the contents and there will be little or nosound.

The frame 0 herein constitutes a feeler for the contents of the box; yetthe feeler may be differently formed or constructed and the same resultobtained.

To prevent the mail-matter from passing down the rear side of the plate0, l have provided a plate f, secured to the back plate of the box,which has a beveled acting-face, so that as the cards or letters aredropped into the box and strike thereon they are thrown forward by suchinclined face. The plate f, with the project-ion as shown, also assistsin turning the frame 0 over upon the door as the door is turned down onits pivots. The door is provided with an opening covered by a piece ofglass or other transparent material 9, back of which is arranged a framecomposed of the projection g and sideprojections, as 9 and the upper orfree end (1 of the spring-acting plate d, and in this frame back of theopening any suitable card may be placed to indicate any informationdesired to I00 be given by the owner of the box, such as the time of hisreturn or the cause of his ab-. sence, &c. v

A metallic strip '6 passes around the rear side of the box andterminating in suitable outwardly-turned ends at each side, as at i, thesaid ends 1" forming spring-clips for holding newspapers or otherdesired articles.

It will be seen that the boxherein described fulfills many wants andrequirements, is strong and durable, and is provided with means wherebyit-may be made known, as by pressing the handle 0 whether or not thereis any matter in the box, and when there is matter in the box the frame0 assists in delivering it to the one opening the box.

' I claim-- 1 The mail-box herein described, comprising the side walls,top plate, and bottom plate, the door pivoted at b and having an openingtherein, the frame, substantially as described, at the rear side of thedoor to hold cards or indicators back of the opening in the door, andthe pivoted frame 0 and means for moving it, all substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

T 2. The mail-box herein described, comprising the side walls, bottomplate, the door I), pivoted at b and having hooked ears a the frame 0,having lugs 0 held in place by the hooked ears, and the handle 0, allsubstantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

3. Themail-box herein described,comprising the side walls, bottom plate,top plate, the

door I), pivoted at b, the curved frame 0, having lugs 0?, held byhooked ears 0 on the door I), the handle 0 projecting through the door,and the plate d, having the shoulder d, by which displacement of thelugs is prevented, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The mail-box herein described, comprising the side walls, bottomplate, top plate, the pivoted door Z), the pivoted frame 0, curved at oand having the handle 0 and the platef, having a projection, each sideof which is inclined, all substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

5. In amail-box, an indicator oomprisinga feeler within the box and anoperating member or part exposed at the outside of the box, by which thefeeler is operated to determine whether or not the box is empty,substantially as described.

6. In a mail-box, the door pivoted to be moved from a vertical to ahorizontal position, combined with a frame pivoted at the lower end ofthe door, serving as a holder for the matter dropped into thebox,'substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM O. TAYLOR. Witnesses:

BERNICE J. Novns, FREDERICK L. EMERY.

